The BCCI is reportedly unhappy with the comments made by Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir on the Kolkata pitch after India suffered a big loss in the first Test against South Africa. Incidentally, calls for the sacking of Gautam Gambhir are at their peak after India lost the second Test to the Proteas as well in Guwahati.

India suffered their biggest loss by runs, 408 runs, to South Africa and suffered their second Test series whitewash in two years.

As per a Hindustan Times report, Gautam Gambhir’s forthright comments on the Kolkata pitch have put him on thin ice with the BCCI. Due to "lack of alternatives," Gambhir is probably going to stay in charge for the time being, but if India performs poorly at home in the T20 World Cup 2026, his job may be called into question.

Gambhir's public support of the black-soil surface at Eden Gardens, which was heavily criticized after India crumbled on a turning track that tested both batting units but revealed obvious technical flaws in the hosts, is the root of the board's dissatisfaction. After being bowled out for 93 in the fourth innings, India lost the game by 30 runs.

Gambhir, however, maintained that the pitch behaved exactly as the team had requested.

“This is exactly the pitch we were looking for. The curator was very, very helpful and supportive. This is exactly what we wanted, and this is exactly what we got. When you don't play well, this is what happens,” he said after the Kolkata defeat.

“Yes, it might not be a wicket, which is going to be very flamboyant, where you can play those big shots. But if you are willing to put your head down, it is definitely a wicket where you can score. There were no demons in this wicket. It was not an unplayable wicket. It was a wicket where your technique can be judged, your mental toughness can be challenged, and, more importantly than that is your temperament. The point is that you should be able to know how to play a turn. And this is what we asked for, and this is what we got,” he added.

These statements have sat well within the BCCI, and while the board is expected to conduct a broader review of India’s Test decline—involving Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar—insiders say that the board will not rush into drastic changes.

Split coaching is currently considered "far-fetched," and there aren't many other options for the head coach position. The matter is still far from resolved.

“There will be deeper conversations after the white-ball season,” a board official hinted, suggesting that Gambhir’s long-term position could hinge on India’s performance at the 2026 T20 World Cup.

A disastrous domestic campaign might reignite conversations about leadership in several contexts.

BCCI top brass’ main concern has been India's Test record, particularly at home. The team has lost numerous home series under Gambhir's leadership, which is unimaginable for Indian cricket under Gambhir's predecessors like Rahul Dravid and Ravi Shastri.

Gambhir's excessive dependence on all-rounders and part-timers at the expense of specialist hitters and bowlers is a key source of criticism from former players and experts. It is thought that this tactical strategy undermined the foundation needed for success in the five-day format by sacrificing stability and depth.

(Hindustan Times report)